In focus: Deandra Dottin
Published: 18 May 2014

Ahead of MCC Women v Rest of the World Women on Monday 19 May at Lord's, Raf Nicholson previews West Indies' master-blaster, Deandra Dottin.

Deandra Dottin (West Indies & Rest of the World)

The most effective antidote to those who have tried to suggest that the women’s game is without power, Deandra Dottin became the first woman to score a century in T20Is back in 2010, during a World Twenty20 match against South Africa.

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I decided to go after everything

An incredible innings that featured nine sixes and five fours, her 38-ball century remains the fastest century by any cricketer, male or female, in T20Is.

“I decided to go after everything”, she said afterwards. It came less than a year after she had achieved another record: a 22-ball half-century against Australia, the fastest by any woman in T20Is.

More recently, Dottin – who perhaps not surprisingly also excels at javelin, shot put and discus – hit 60 off 67 balls during the 2013 World Cup, taking West Indies to their first ever ODI victory against Australia and their first appearance in a global tournament final.

She was largely responsible for West Indies’ victory in the T20 tri-series last November, hitting 46* in 35 balls in the final and being awarded Player of the Series.

Dottin is also a handy pace bowler, who took 4/12 against England at the 2014 World Twenty20 and has 35 international wickets to her name.

Other players: MCC v Rest of the World

Natalie Sciver (England & MCC)

Born in Tokyo, Natalie Sciver first played cricket while growing up in the Netherlands, though it was initially her third-choice sport, after football and tennis.

A genuine all-rounder, she stormed on to the international scene for England last July, taking 3/28 against Pakistan and claiming the Player of the Match award in only her second ODI.

A skiddy, accurate medium-pacer, last October she became the first English cricketer, male or female, to take a T20I hat-trick.

Sciver established herself as a key middle-order anchor for England during the 2013 Ashes series, averaging exactly 100 with the bat, and displayed the same ability earlier this year during the Perth Test, sharing a 58-run partnership with Arran Brindle to rescue England’s first innings, falling just one short of a maiden Test half-century.

Currently studying Sports and Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University, she has already, at just 21 years old, been tipped by some as a future England captain.

Jhulan Goswami (India & MCC)

Jhulan Goswami is currently the fastest female bowler in the world, consistently bowling at speeds of around 75mph.

Her pace, combined with her 5’11’’ frame, which allows her to extract extra bounce off the pitch, have proved a lethal combination.

Once coached by Australian quick bowler Dennis Lillee, she is the leading Indian wicket-taker in women’s internationals and a former captain who led her country to two wins over reigning champions and hosts Australia in the 2009 World Cup.

It is for good reason that Goswami has been described as England’s “bête noire”: she once skittled them out for 50 in an ODI, their lowest ever total, taking 5/16; and her 4/27 against them in the 2005 World Cup helped India knock them out to reach the final.

Back in 2006, her 10/78 in the second Test at Taunton, the best bowling performance by an Indian in women’s Tests, helped lead India to their maiden Test victory over England. Her efforts were rightly recognised the following year when she became the first Indian player to receive the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award.